Have you ever eaten a large amount of food just to feel a minute of relief? Do you hide your eating from family and loved ones? If this sounds like you, then you are in the right place. Every day people struggle with their unhealthy relationship with food. If you have an unhealthy relationship with food, you may have contemplated the severity of your problem. You may have even denied that you have a problem with overeating. There is one major thought process that may be keeping you from recognizing your problem with food.

The thought that keeps you from recognizing the severity of your unhealthy relationship with food is “I just like to eat”. Yes, it is true that there are many people who enjoy eating and the taste of wonderful food. People who eat simply because they enjoy food do not feel the need to over indulge themselves by eating large quantities. They eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full.

If you have binge eating disorder you enjoy eating food for a different reason. You may have an eating disorder if you eat to feel happiness when you are stressed, or if you eat to fill a void in your life. The distinct difference between enjoying food and having an unhealthy relationship with food is the motivation behind eating. If you have binge eating disorder, you overeat to feel a hole inside emotionally. Telling yourself that you eat simply because you like food leads you to believe that overeating is acceptable. If you believe this erroneous thinking, you will not recognize that you have binge eating disorder and will probably continue to overeat.

By having this thought process, you are denying that your overeating has reached the point that it has. Denying your unhealthy relationship with food will allow the cycle of fear, depression, eating, dieting and low self esteem to continue. You will not be able to reach your full potential without accepting that your eating is based on your emotional state of mind, and not on the fact that you simply like food.

The first step in developing a healthy relationship with food is accepting that your eating habits may be linked to binge eating disorder. Once this happens, you can begin to develop tools you can utilize as you begin to build a healthy relationship with food. You may want to lose weight, but wonder how you can do this in a healthy way. This can still be achieved through a non-diet approach to weight loss. This approach helps you learn to accept yourself and develop a relationship with your body. By listening to your body, you can feed it what it needs. When you understand what your body is saying, you will begin to eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full. Use a non-diet approach to weight loss and leave the road of disappointment behind as you find your path to personal success.